The members of three city clubs, JCI St. Inez, Panjim Sports Festival Committee and Young Boys of Campal yesterday strongly demanded the reconstruction of the Campal Football Stadium and alleged that those opposing the stadium had themselves developed their property where more than 200 flats were expected to come up.
They also decided to organize the five-a-side Football Tie-Breaker Tournament tomorrow Sunday June 26, to generate Public support and opinion in favour of the rebuilding of the Campal Football stadium. Speaking to reporters, Sandeep Heble went on to ad that the last few days had given the Panjim residents reasons to cheer as well as a few moments of disappointment. Moments to cheer because the Executive Director of SAG Mr. V. M. Prabhudesai had stated that the Government was seriously considering to build a state-of-the-art Football stadium at Campal, with a capacity of 5000 spectators, which the city residents were waiting for with gasping breath. Heble said that the moment for disappointment came to him when he read the CCP Mayor’s statement opposing the proposed stadium. Heble divulged that no sooner had he read that, he called up the Mayor, who he said, had admitted to him that he had not seen the plans at all. Heble said that as such, “the Mayor’s statement was not only disappointing but also premature and even irresponsible”. Heble suspected the Mayor had given the statement only to please his fellow Councilor colleague Kabir Makhija, who was opposing the stadium on personal grounds and for nothing else. The excuse of ‘decongesting the city’ is an eyewash meant simply to pull the wool over the eyes of the public, since the CCP has been giving permissions for hosting exhibitions at the Parade ground- where thousands visit daily- Mr. Heble thundered. He further revealed that all the 12 Councilors from the Panaji first Panel, apart from Leader of the Opposition and city MLA Manohar Parrikar, had expressed their support in favour of the stadium and that they would actively participate and promote the event on Sunday. He further said that apart from Councillor Kabir Makhija, none of the other Councilors had opposed the stadium so far. Dr Rufino Monteiro flayed the Government for changing the space opposite Campal Stadium from residential and recreational zone into a commercial zone. Dr Rufino further alleged that those who were opposing the Stadium had themselves developed their property where more than 200 flats were expected to come up. This would create a permanent problem of traffic congestion and not the Football stadium where matches are held only on weekends, Dr Rufino elaborated. Fish, Football and Feni are an inherent part of the culture of Goa. Fish has depleted, the Feni has become adulterated and now the Government wants to remove the Football from our feet, thundered Dr Rufino. Moreover, there will not be more than 30 top level games in the whole year so the excuse of traffic congestion is eyewash, remarked Dr Rufino. CCP Councilor Surendra Furtado said that he was consistently after the Government to build the stadium and even recently, he had called up the Chief Minister who had promised to do the needful soon. Furtado said that every village has its own stadium and it is high time Panjim city has its own as well. “Noted architect Milind Ramani has conceptualized the plan for 3000 spectators with options for quick and smooth traffic disposal. So, what is just needed is the Government’s signal,” added Furtado. “2 or 3 families cannot hold the city to ransom”, thundered Mr. Furtado. Michael Ribeiro, representing one of the local organizing clubs and a resident of the Kaddint area (located exactly opposite the Campal grounds) denied that the locals were opposing the stadium. Nobody is opposing it, we are all for it, but we want that this ground should also be made available to the local clubs to play against one another but not must be handed over solely to the GFA”, he remarked. Joaquim Teles appealed to the people to come out in large numbers on Sunday and participate in the Football Tie Breaker, which would send a strong signal to the Government in favour of the stadium. Mr. Teles said that they had received entries form around 50 teams so far; including 10 teams from Miramar and 5 teams from Campal which itself showed how much support there was for Football in the city. We are sure the figure of participating teams will go up to 100, expressed a confident Teles. Mr. Hilary Fernandes, President of Panjim Sports Festival Committee and Mr. Manoj Patil, past Zone President of Goa Jaycees also spoke on the occasion. GFA Executive Committee member Angelo Albuquerque was also present on the occasion. courtesy: Gomantak Times Saturday, June 25, 2011
